Useful Reviews

The comment that springs first to mind is ‘Just what the doctor ordered!’ – the preservation of what could be so easily lost. Histories of both horses and humans, bits from old books so particularly placed.

This is a beautiful book from a knowledgeable source, and brings so many memories to mind, and manages to amalgamate portions of previously disparate articles in one attractive presentation.

This well-written and researched epistle documents the origins of the British Riding Pony, from its sometimes lowly beginnings to the heights it has achieved today, hardly missing a contributor. Reading it is like taking a stud tour of the UK on horseback, jolting my own memory of the many minor invasions we instigated on trips there from time to time. Beautifully illustrated, it would serve equally well as a coffee-table ornament or an historic account of the work of pony breeders over the decades. For the breeder it is truly an inspiration, and a reward also for those involved in what is sometimes nothing but a labour of love and dedication.

It is truly a history, and neither a critique nor an instruction booklet, and is refreshing insofar as it relies on the readers’ powers of observation to draw their own conclusions as to the quality or desirability of the animals portrayed.

The book’s author, Tom Best of the famed Waxwing Stud in Scotland, is a breeder himself of both British Riding Ponies and Welsh Section A and B ponies of the highest quality. He is an experienced judge but has judiciously resisted the temptation to lay on the reader his own opinions. His pursuit of the activities and connections of the owners and breeders of some of these animals gives a fascinating insight into the times when the breed was developing.

For anyone wishing to enhance their knowledge of the background of the riding pony, from its origins to the present day, I could not recommend this record more highly.

Just wanted to pass on my thanks for writing such a wonderful book on the history of the British Riding Pony. I was able to purchase your book through New Zealand and have just about read it cover to cover now. Fantastic to see the photos of so many ancestors of my ponies and other pedigrees that I’ve researched for friends.

Even better to see the Thorwood Pali Colt photo being shown by Robert Cockram at our very own 2009 Geelong Royal Show.

Ballynamona Welsh Ponies, Teesdale Victoria Australia

Wendy Campbell –7th May 2012

… is just a wonderful piece of work. Apart from offering a treasure trove of information about the ponies, the biographical snippets about various breeders and owners are fascinating. It flows beautifully-like a good conversation. I have recommended this lovely book at every opportunity!

Wendy Campbell

Bridget Kindler –7th May 2012

I was most impressed with the readability of the book. You have somehow managed to provide lots of factual details of owners, pony breeding, sires and dams etc while avoiding obvious repetition of phrases etc. Also the photos and the history they provide are fantastic. Gathering all this information together and presenting it so well is a massive achievement.

Bridget Kindler

Mrs Ailsa Pease (Lemington Stud, Barnard Castle) –7th May 2012

What an achievement to have written such a book, with so much detail, with both the breeding of the ponies and wonderful photographs.

I think that the ‘Pony World’ should be eternally grateful for such a work of art, and altogether, an amazing record, which otherwise could have been lost.

For me – it was quite nostalgic to see photographs of others, now gone, such as Mrs Pennell, Mr Llewelyn Richards and Elwyn Hartley Edwards.

I am sure that I am one of hundreds of readers who have written to you to congratulate you on your awesome book, The History of the British Riding Pony. I have never before sat up all night to read a book – as I did last night.

The research involved and the detail and history of so many ponies is quite incredible, and it gives the reader an immense understanding of the evolution of our treasured breed.

…I am now in my 90th year but still living on those wonderful memories – all revived by your enthralling book. Thank you!

Lady Elizabeth Gilbey (Culross Riding Pony Stud, Pulborough)

Miss Patricia Roberts (Hisley Dartmoor Stud, Devon) –7th May 2012

I have just finished reading it and have loved every minute as it brought back so many memories. I am in complete admiration as to how you managed to put in so much information on the breeding of the ponies, in chapter after chapter, without getting repetitious, but keep it so readable all the way through.

Miss Patricia Roberts (Hisley Dartmoor Stud, Devon)

Lady Vestey –4th May 2012

…an excellent history of the riding pony executed with in-depth knowledge, historical fact and great readability. It will definitely go down in the list of must-have pony bibles. I feel like an older Alice living through her looking glass. So many of the greats are no longer alive and I feel so sad every time one of them dies and part of the pony world is poorer as we attend their funerals and hear the anecdotes that were the keystones for such greatness and camaraderie. … how lucky we lived through this era with the likes of Gladys Yule, Glenda Spooner, Count Robert Orsich and Sybil Smith and College, etc. We will never see their like again and your contributution by recording this for posterity is priceless. …what a book! I shall buy more and give them as presents.

Lady Vestey

Horsetalk.co.nz –19th April 2012

“The publishers describe it as a definitive account, and it is impossible to disagree. Best has produced a very well written and well organised history. The illustrations alone constitute a fascinating glimpse into history.”

The History of the British Riding Pony

The History of the British Riding Pony is the fruit of many years of dedicated research and writing by an acknowledged expert on the subject.

Drawing on archive material, the book explains how bloodlines emerged over the years and how the types we now see in our show rings have been developed. It describes in detail how the expertise of a few influential breeders initially brought together the best bloodlines from the Thoroughbred, Arab and native pony breeds to create a modern equine which has no equal.

The History of the British Riding Pony is the fruit of many years of dedicated research and writing by an acknowledged expert on the subject.

Drawing on archive material, the book explains how bloodlines emerged over the years and how the types we now see in our show rings have been developed. It describes in detail how the expertise of a few influential breeders initially brought together the best bloodlines from the Thoroughbred, Arab and native pony breeds to create a modern equine which has no equal.

In writing this definitive account, Tom Best has not only preserved for posterity the origins and history of this important breed, but provided a fascinating backdrop of more than a century of social history.

Fully illustrated with historical and contemporary photographs, the book is essential reading for British Riding Pony aficionados. It will also interest Thoroughbred, Arab and native pony enthusiasts, keen to learn of the formative role their own breed has played in the development of another.

The History of the British Riding Pony is a tour de force which provides a unique overview of the development of the breed from the late 19th century, when ponies were required for polo, to the present day when ponies are used extensively in the show ring for children to ride, and is worthy of a place on every equestrian bookshelf.

Tom Best is an acknowledged expert on ponies. Co-founder of Waxwing Stud, he has bred and produced riding ponies as well as Welsh ponies at the highest level, qualifying them for the Horse of the Year Show and taking championships at shows such as the Royal, Great Yorkshire, Royal Highland, Royal Welsh, National Pony Society and Ponies UK.

In a parallel career as a panel judge, he has judged overseas and at all the major British events including the ‘London’ Shows (which include the Royal International Horse Show and Royal Windsor as well as the Horse of the Year Show), where he has judged the show pony, show hunter pony and working hunter pony finals.

He is a graduate of Edinburgh University where he studied agriculture before becoming a secondary school teacher and gaining more than 30 years experience in education. His interest in ponies stems from his father who loved horses and worked with them in his youth. From the age of nine when he was given his first pony, a growing interest soon developed into a passion and resulted in the founding of the Waxwing Stud in West Fife in 1972.

He was persuaded by Joan Lee-Smith, Patron of Ponies Association UK, and the late Elspeth Ferguson of Rosevean Stud to record for posterity the history of the British Riding Pony before the evidence of its origins was lost forever.

9 reviews for The History of the British Riding Pony

Horsetalk.co.nz –19th April 2012

“The publishers describe it as a definitive account, and it is impossible to disagree. Best has produced a very well written and well organised history. The illustrations alone constitute a fascinating glimpse into history.”

horsetalk.co.nz

Lady Vestey –4th May 2012

…an excellent history of the riding pony executed with in-depth knowledge, historical fact and great readability. It will definitely go down in the list of must-have pony bibles. I feel like an older Alice living through her looking glass. So many of the greats are no longer alive and I feel so sad every time one of them dies and part of the pony world is poorer as we attend their funerals and hear the anecdotes that were the keystones for such greatness and camaraderie. … how lucky we lived through this era with the likes of Gladys Yule, Glenda Spooner, Count Robert Orsich and Sybil Smith and College, etc. We will never see their like again and your contributution by recording this for posterity is priceless. …what a book! I shall buy more and give them as presents.

Lady Vestey

Miss Patricia Roberts (Hisley Dartmoor Stud, Devon) –7th May 2012

I have just finished reading it and have loved every minute as it brought back so many memories. I am in complete admiration as to how you managed to put in so much information on the breeding of the ponies, in chapter after chapter, without getting repetitious, but keep it so readable all the way through.

I am sure that I am one of hundreds of readers who have written to you to congratulate you on your awesome book, The History of the British Riding Pony. I have never before sat up all night to read a book – as I did last night.

The research involved and the detail and history of so many ponies is quite incredible, and it gives the reader an immense understanding of the evolution of our treasured breed.

…I am now in my 90th year but still living on those wonderful memories – all revived by your enthralling book. Thank you!

Lady Elizabeth Gilbey (Culross Riding Pony Stud, Pulborough)

Mrs Ailsa Pease (Lemington Stud, Barnard Castle) –7th May 2012

What an achievement to have written such a book, with so much detail, with both the breeding of the ponies and wonderful photographs.

I think that the ‘Pony World’ should be eternally grateful for such a work of art, and altogether, an amazing record, which otherwise could have been lost.

For me – it was quite nostalgic to see photographs of others, now gone, such as Mrs Pennell, Mr Llewelyn Richards and Elwyn Hartley Edwards.

Mrs Ailsa Pease (Lemington Stud, Barnard Castle)

Bridget Kindler –7th May 2012

I was most impressed with the readability of the book. You have somehow managed to provide lots of factual details of owners, pony breeding, sires and dams etc while avoiding obvious repetition of phrases etc. Also the photos and the history they provide are fantastic. Gathering all this information together and presenting it so well is a massive achievement.

Bridget Kindler

Wendy Campbell –7th May 2012

… is just a wonderful piece of work. Apart from offering a treasure trove of information about the ponies, the biographical snippets about various breeders and owners are fascinating. It flows beautifully-like a good conversation. I have recommended this lovely book at every opportunity!

Wendy Campbell

Ballynamona Welsh Ponies, Teesdale Victoria Australia –7th May 2012

Just wanted to pass on my thanks for writing such a wonderful book on the history of the British Riding Pony. I was able to purchase your book through New Zealand and have just about read it cover to cover now. Fantastic to see the photos of so many ancestors of my ponies and other pedigrees that I’ve researched for friends.

Even better to see the Thorwood Pali Colt photo being shown by Robert Cockram at our very own 2009 Geelong Royal Show.

The comment that springs first to mind is ‘Just what the doctor ordered!’ – the preservation of what could be so easily lost. Histories of both horses and humans, bits from old books so particularly placed.

This is a beautiful book from a knowledgeable source, and brings so many memories to mind, and manages to amalgamate portions of previously disparate articles in one attractive presentation.

This well-written and researched epistle documents the origins of the British Riding Pony, from its sometimes lowly beginnings to the heights it has achieved today, hardly missing a contributor. Reading it is like taking a stud tour of the UK on horseback, jolting my own memory of the many minor invasions we instigated on trips there from time to time. Beautifully illustrated, it would serve equally well as a coffee-table ornament or an historic account of the work of pony breeders over the decades. For the breeder it is truly an inspiration, and a reward also for those involved in what is sometimes nothing but a labour of love and dedication.

It is truly a history, and neither a critique nor an instruction booklet, and is refreshing insofar as it relies on the readers’ powers of observation to draw their own conclusions as to the quality or desirability of the animals portrayed.

The book’s author, Tom Best of the famed Waxwing Stud in Scotland, is a breeder himself of both British Riding Ponies and Welsh Section A and B ponies of the highest quality. He is an experienced judge but has judiciously resisted the temptation to lay on the reader his own opinions. His pursuit of the activities and connections of the owners and breeders of some of these animals gives a fascinating insight into the times when the breed was developing.

For anyone wishing to enhance their knowledge of the background of the riding pony, from its origins to the present day, I could not recommend this record more highly.